Feeding mechanism for feeding articles having eyes or loops.



Nn. 681,491. Patented Aug. 21 mol. w. o. BEMENT.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FEEDING ARTICLES HAVING EYES 0R LOUPS.

(Application ilcll Apr` 28, 1900.

Patented Aug. 27, |90I. W. 0. BEMENT.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOB FEEDING ARTICLES HAVING EYES 0R LOUPS.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Q` x: lu Nd 1.1. Wd AA 3 1 OLI \|n \N` w 5| Nxw d'. nw, \G.N\ m .rm MSW i @A l lll a. WA Ad QQ w. o mln Nv l NOM we@ No. 68l,49|. Patented Aug. 27, |9OI.

W. 0. BEMENT. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FEEDING ARTICLES HAVING EYES 0B LUUPS.

(Applicatinn led Apr. 23, 1900.) (no Model.) s sheets-snm 3.

No. 68mm. Patented Aug. 27, |901.

w. o. BEMENT. y FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FEEDING ARTICLES HAVING EYES 0B LOUPS.

(Application led Apr. 23,' 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(Ilo Model.)

No. sa|,49|. Patented Aug. 27, |901. w. o. semzu.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOB FEEDING ARTICLES HAVING EYES 0B LOUPS. (Application tiled Apr. 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Shasta-Sheet 5.

n mnmmrifflammigma No. 68|,49L Patented Aug. 27, I90l.

W. 0. BEMENT.

FEEDING MEOHANISM FOB FEEDIIIG ARTICLES HAVINGYEYESYUB LOUPS.

` (Appmacmn med Apr. as, 1900.) (No Modal.) 6 Sheets-Shut 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WILLIAM O. BEMENT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VIRE GOODS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FEEDING ARTICLES HAVING EYES R LOOPS.

SPECIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,491, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed April 23, 1900. Serial No. 13,888. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. BEMENT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Worcester, iu the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Feeding Articles HavingEyes or Loops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the Io accompanying drawings,forminga part of the same, in whichj Figure 1 representsa top view of a machine for making chain-links from a short piece of wire having an eye or loop at one end by forming a similar eye at the opposite end and containing a feeding mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. l represents a chainlink made of wire and provided with eyes and loops at its ends. Fig. 1b represents a short zo piece of wire having an eye or loop at one end and showing one kind of article adapted to be operated upon by the feeding mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 1c represents a screw-eye having an eye at one end and z5 capable of being subjected to the operation of my feeding mechanism and presented to appropriate mechanism for completing the screw-eye by pointing the opposite end and cutting a thread thereon. Fig. 2 is a side 3o view, on a larger scale, of a portion of the feeding mechanism. Fig. 3 is an end view of that portion of the feeding mechanism shown in side View in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a top View of a pair of gripping-jaws and their con- 3 5 nected actuated mechanism by which the article is seized and transferred from one portion of the feeding mechanism to another, the jaws being shown in position when closed upon the article to be held. Fig. 5 is a simi- 4o lar or top View of the gripping-jaws, showing the jaws open to release the article. Fig. 6 is a side View of the gripping-jaws with the jaws in the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ofa portion of a revolving turret and an oscillating cam by which a series ot' chuckjaws carried by the revolving turret are operated with connected actuating mechanism for oscillating the cam and imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the turret. Fig. 5o 7 is an elevation of one of the disks carrying a series of radial studs upon which the articles to be fed are suspended and showing the gripping-jaws in position to be closed upon the article and remove it from one of the studs. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a por- 55 tion of the revolving turret, partially shown in section and containing one pair of chuckjaws in a closed position. Fig. 9 is a side View of one pair of chuck-jaws carried bythe revolving turret with the jaws open. Fig. 9 6o is' a top View of a portion of the mechanism for imparting an intermittent motion to the vertical spindles carrying the radial studs upon which the articles to be fed are suspended, said spindles being shown in sectional view. Fig. 9b is a side elevation of the oscillating linger and of the two series of rotating studs to which the articles are transferred from the oscillating finger. Fig. 10 is a top View of one pair of chuck-jaws carried 7o by the revolving turret, showing aportion of the turret. Fig. 11 shows a portion of the revolving turret, with one of the spindles carrying the chuck-jaws shown in transverse sectional view with a cam -plate attached thereto and a portion of a xed track upon which the ca m-plate rides in order to hold the chuck-spindle from rotating, the track having a detachable section capable of being removed to provide a gap in the track to per- 8o mit the chuck-spindle to rotate when desired. Fig. l2 represents the same View as shown in Fig. 11 with a section of the fixed track removed. Fig. 13 is a top View of the oscillating finger and rotating studs and showing the mechanism by which the articles to be fed are transferred from one stud to another, and Fig. 14 is an elevation of the bell-crank lever forming part of the stripping mechanism for transferring the articles from the 9o first to the second series of studs.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different views. My invention relates to a feeding mechanism for feeding articles which are provided with a hole, eye, or loop-such, for example, as chain-links, screw-eyes, nut-blanks, and the like-to a machine for performing the various operations by which the articles are completed, the several operations performed loo depending upon the character of the article manufactured.

The feeding mechanism embodying my present invention is adapted to feed articles provided with a hole, eye, or loop, for the reason that the method of feeding requires that each of the articles be strung by means of its hole, eye, or loop upon a finger. I have represented my improved feeding mechanism in the accompanying drawings as used in connection with a machine for manufacturing wire chain-links, each link consisting of a short piece of wire provided with an eye or loop at each of its ends, such articles being capable of illustrating the nature of my invention. The completed link is shown in Fig. la, and the piece of wire from which the link is made and having an eye or loop at one end, by which it is adapted to be fed to my feeding mechanism, is shown in Fig. 1l. The machine shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is designed to operate upon a short piece of wire having an eye at one end and to complete the link by forming a second loop or eye at its opposite end.

If the machine to which the feeding mechanism is attached is designed for the manufacture of screw-eyes, a similar piece of Wire would be fed to the operation of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1", and the screw-eye would be completed by suitable mechanisms for pointing the opposite end of the wire and either cutting or rolling a thread thereon, completing the screw-eye, as shown in Fig. 1. The mechanism for operating upon the article may be modified or changed, as determined bythe article to be made. My present invention relates only to the feeding mechanism by which the articles are' taken one by one from a hopper or receptacle and successively fed to the several operating mechanisms designed to act upon the article fed thereto and complete the same,;fbut for the purpose of illustrating the character and method of operation of my improved feeding mechanism I have shown it in connection with a machine for making chain-links, each consisting of a short piece of wire having an eye or loop at its opposite ends capable of interlocking with the eyes or loops of similar links in making a chain.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and set forth in the annexed claims.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a table shown in plan view in Fig. 1 and forming a portion of the framework of the machine, upon which are mounted certain portions of the mechanism for performing the several operations upon the piece of wire and a. series of' chuck-jaws carried in a turret, having an intermittent rotary movement by which the articles to be acted upon are successivelypresented to the several operating mechanisms.

2 denotes a bracket attached to one edge of the table 1 and supporting that portion of the feeding mechanism by which the piece of wire to bey fed, having an eye or loop at one end, is automatically taken from a rotary hopper and presented to the holding chuckjaws carried by the intermittently-rotating turret.

Journaled in boxes attached to the framework of the machine is a short shaft 3, carrying upon one end a belt-pulley 4, by which power is impai'ted to the machine, and on the opposite end a pinion (not shown) which engages a gear 5 on a shaft 6, `Journaled 1n boxes 7 7 attached to the framework and carrying upon its opposite ends beveled gears 8 and 9, engaging beveled gears 10 and 11 on the shafts 12 and 13. The shaft 12 carries a gear 12, engaging a gear 12b on a shaft 12C. The shaft 12c carries upon its opposite end a beveled gear 14, engaging a beveled gear l5 on one end of a shaft 16, journaled in boxes supported by a bracket 2 and carrying at its opposite end a friction-wheel 17, Fig. 2, in frictional contact with the side cfa wheel18, attached to the under side of a hopper 19, which is journaled upon a fixed spindle 20. Mounted upon the bracket 2 are the vertical posts 21 2l, in the upper ends of which is journaled a rocking-shaft 22, to which an oscillating motion in one direction is given by means of a cam 23 on the shaft 16 acting against one end of an oscillating lever 24, which is connected at its opposite end by means `of a link 25 to the end of a radial arm 26, attached to the rocking shaft 22, and the oscillating motion of the shaft 22, as actuated by the cam 23,is reversed by means of a spring 27, which connects the end of a radial arm 2S, carried by the rocking shaft 22, with a xed pin 29, held in the framework of the machine. The end of the rocking shaft 22 carries a finger 80, consisting of a slender steel rod small enough to enter the eyes or loops in the pieces of wire to be fed, and the oscillating motion of the rocking shaft 22 imparts a rising-and-falling motion to the free end of the finger 30, by which it is alternately carried into the hopper 19 and raised into the position shown in Fig. 3. As the free end of the finger 30 is depressed into the hopper 19 the rotary motion of the hopper in the direction of the arrow 3l carries the pieces of wire against the end of the nger 30, causing more or less of them to be strung upon the finger 30 by their eyes or loops, so that when the finger 30 is raised into the position shown in Fig. 3 one or more will be lifted by the finger 30, as represented at 32, Figs. 9" and 13. When the nger 30 is raised into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, its free end is brought in alinement with one of a series of short studs 33, carried in the ends of the arms 34, attached to the lower end of a vertical spindle 35, journaled in boxes 3G 3G. Each of the short studs 33 is preferably of sufficient length to hold three of the pieces of Wire lifted from the hopper by the linger 30, and as the end of the finger is raised into IOO IIO

alinement with one of the studs 33 the articles held thereon are pushed toward its free end and three of them transferred to the stud 33 in alinement therewith by means of a reciprocating stripper-arm 37. Thestripperarm 37 is carried by a collar 37a, inclosed between the collars 38 38 on a fixed rod 39, held in an upright post 40, mounted on the bracket 2. The collar 37ph is capable of sliding and rocking upon the rod 39 and is provided at its free end with an open slot inclosing the finger 30. The collars 38 are united on their under sides and are pivotally connected by means of a link 41 with the end of a lever 42, which rocks on a stud 43, held in the frame-work of the machine, and carries in its opposite end a cam-roll 44, bearing against the side of acam 45 on the shaft 12. A spring 46 connects the lever 42 with a stud 47 in the frame of the machine, with the tension of the spring applied to rock the lever 42 and carry the stripping-arm 37 toward the free end of the finger 30 as the lever 42 is released by the cam 45 during the period the finger 30 is held in alinement with one of the studs 33. The sliding motion of the stripperarm 37, actuated by the spring 46, pushes the pieces of wire held upon the finger 30 onto the stud 33. If the number of pieces of wire which are held upon the finger 30 are in eX- cess of the capacity of the stud 33, the excess will remain upon the finger, limiting the motion of the stripper-arm 37. Vhen the stripper-arm has pushed the pieces of wire from the finger 3() upon the stud 33, the cam 45 acts against the tension of the spring 46 to reverse the motion of the stripper-arm and hold it stationary while the finger 30 is again depressed into the hopper 19 for a new supply. While the finger 30 is depressed in the hopper 19 the spindle 35, carrying the short studs 33, is rotated-in the present instance one-quarter of a revolutionbringing the next succeeding stud into proper position to be in alinement with the finger 30 when the finger is again raised. Parallel with the vertical spindle 35 is a spindle 48, journaled in boxes 49, and attached to its lower end is a disk 50, carrying a series of equidistant studs 51-in the present instance four in numbercorresponding to the studs 33, carried by the spindle 35. The spindles 35 and 48 are geared together by gears 52 and 53, and the spindles 35 and 48 are simultaneously rotated with an intermittent motion actuated by a ratchet mechanism comprising an arm 54, pivoted concentrically with the spindle 48 and carrying a spring-actuated bolt 55, engaging ratchet-shaped recesses 56 in the upper surface of the gear 53. The arm 54is connected by a link 57 with a vertical arm 58 of a bellcrank lever pivoted upon a lug 59, projecting upwardly from the bracket 2. The horizontal arm 60 of the bell-crank lever has its end 6l resting upon the face of a cam 62 on the shaft 12, by which the bell-crank lever is rocked and the arm4 54 actuated to rotate the spindles 35 and 4S one quarter-turn, when the arm 54 and connected mechanism are reversed by the action of a spring 63. At each intermittent movement of the spindles 35 and 48 one of the studs 33 and one of the studs 5l are brought into alinement and held by means of a sliding dog 50a, actuated by a spring 50b and having a beveled point adapted to engage a triangular notch 512L in a wheel 51", carried by the spindle 48. The studs 51 on the disk 50 are of sufficient length to hold a single article, and the upper sides of the studs 5l are recessed in order to forma small shoulder 64 to prevent the piece of wire from being jarred off the studs as the disk 50 rotates. The transfer of the piece ofl wire from one of the studs 33 to one of the studs 5l is accomplished by an oscillating lever 65, pivoted on a stud 66 and having one end 67 projecting above the stud 33, which is held in alinement with the stud 51 and arranged to push the pieces of wire along the stud 33 and transfer one of them to the stud 51. The opposite end of the oscillating lever is connected with the vertical arm of a bell-crank 68, having its horizontal arm actuated by a cam 69 on the shaft 16 to hold the end 67 of the lever 65 at the base of the stud 33 until the bell-crank 68 is released by the cam 69, allowing the lever 65 to be rocked bya spring 65, which moves the end 67 forward to transfer one of the pieces of wire to the stud 51. The action of the cam 69 then reverses the motion of the lever 65 and an intermittent motion is again imparted to the spindles 35 and 48, bringing the next succeeding pair of studs into alinement, when the lever 65 is again oscillated and a piece of wire pushed from a stud 33 upon a stud 51. In case each of the studs 33 carries three pieces of wire suspended thereon, while the studs 51 are capable of holding but one, the action of the oscillating lever 65 will push one of the pieces of wire upon the stud 51 and leave the remaining two still suspended upon the stud 33. The object of feeding three pieces of wire upon the stud 33, while the studs 51 are capable of holding but one, is to provide a surplus carried by the studs 33, so that in case the linger 30 at any of its motions should fail to furnish a supply to the studs 33 the surplus carried upon the studs 33 would prevent an interruption of the feeding upon the studs 51. As the disk 50 is intermittently rotated each of its studs is IOO IIO

brought in turn by two quarter-revolutions of the disk into a position to bring the piece of wire suspended thereon above a pair of gripping-jaws 70 71, with the stem of the piece of Wire hanging in a vertical position and adapted to be seized by the jaws and lifted above the shoulder 64 on theV stud 51 and carried from a vertical into a horizontal position by the operation of the jaws 70 7l, as herein after described. The jaws 70 7l are carried by a rocking spindle 72, which is journaled in bearings 73 and is periodically rocked one quarter-revolution by means of a cam 74 on the end of the shaft 12, the side of which bears against a cam-1101175, carried by the end of a lever 76, pivoted at 77 tothe framework of the machine and provided at its opposite end with a slot 78, iuclosing a stud 79 on a bar 80, which is capable of a horizontal sliding motion in a bearing 81. The bar 80 carries a pin 82, which works in the slotted end of a radial arm 84, attached to the end of the rocking spindle 72. The rockingspindle 72 is provided on one side with ways for sliding plates 85 86. The sliding plate 85 carries the gripping-jaw 70, and the sliding plate 86 carries the gripping-jaw 71. Pivoted upon the spindle 72 is an oscillating bar 87, provided at its ends with slots 88, which inclose studs 90 91, projecting from the plates 85 and 86. The oscillating bar 87 is pivotally connected at one end to a link 92, which passes through and is capable of sliding in an eyebolt 93, carried by a plate 94, which is attached to a collar 95 and is capable of sliding on the rocking spindle 72 and is provided with a neck 96, which is engaged by a stud 97, carried by one end of a rocking lever 98, pivoted at 99 and actuated by a cam 100 on the shaft 16, by which a reciprocating motion is given to the sliding plate 94. The move ment of the sliding plate 94 in one direction carries the eyebolt 93 against a spiral spring 101, which is inserted between the eyebolt 93 and a shoulder 102 on the link 92, by which a yielding pressure is imparted to oscillate the bar 87 and slide the plates 85 86 and close the jaws 71. When the motion of the sliding plate is reversed, the eyeholt 93, striking a pin 103 in the link 92, imparts an oscillating motion to the bar 87 and opens the jaws 70 7l.

The operation of the gripping-jaws 70 7l and their connected actuated mechanism is as follows: The jaws 70 71 are separated and the rocking spindle 72 oscillated in its bearings to bring the jaws in a vertical plane beneath one of the studs 51, so that the stem of the piece of wire suspended on the stud 51 will hang between the jaws 70 71, which are then closed, as shown in Fig. 7a, a yielding pressure being applied to the jaws by means of the spiral spring 101. The spindle 72 is then rocked to bring the gripping-jaws into a horizontal plane, with the stem of the piece of wire seized between the jaws and with its eye or loop projecting beyond the end of the jaws. The plane of the jaws 70 71 is placed at one side of the axis of the rocking spindle, so that as the lspindle is rocked in carrying the jaws from a vertical to a horizontal plane the piece of wire suspended upon the stud 51 will be lifted to carry it over the shoulder 64. In front of the jaws 70 7l is a rotating turret 104, carrying in the present instance four chucks 105, each consisting of a pair of jaws 106 106, carried by levers 107 107, pivotcd at 108 between plates 109, which are attached to or integral with a longitudinally-sliding spindle 110. The jaws 106 are held in ways 111 on the levers 107 and are adjustable therein by means of the adjusting-screws 112 in order to vary the distance between the faces of the jaws. The spindle 110, carrying chuckjaws 106 10G, is provided with a cone-shaped collar 113, capable of sliding on the spindle 110, in order to bring the cone 113 beneath the ends 114 of the levers 107 and close the jaws, The cone 113 is provided with a neck 115, which is inclosed by a fork 116, carried by a sliding spindle 117 and capable of a longitudinal sliding motion in the turret 104. Attached to the spindle 117 is a block 118, carrying a cam-roll 119 in contact with the edge of a cam 120, attached to the upper end of a shaft 121 and inclosed in the hollow shaft 122, upon which the turret 104 is carried. An intermittent motion is given to thev hollow shaft 122 and turret 104 by means of a cam 123 on the shaft 12, Fig. 7, acting against one end of a rocking lever 124, which is pivoted at 125 and is connected at its opposite end by a link 126 with a rack 127, causing a reciprocating sliding motion to be given to the rack in ways on the framework of the machine. The rack 127 engages a gear 128, turning loosely upon the hollow shaft 122 and carrying on its under side a pawl 129, which engages a ratchet-wheel 130, attached to the hollow shaft 122. The reciprocating motion of the rack 127 in one direction imparts a quarter-revolution to the hollow shaft 122 and turret 124, and the turret is locked in po sition during the reverse movement of the rack by means of a pawl 131, pivoted on the table 1 and provided with a tooth 132, adapted to engage at the proper point a notch 132, Fig. 7, formed in the face of the turret 104. The pawl-131 is pivoted to a link 133, which is provided with a cylindrical end 134, containing a spiral spring (not shown) and receiving in its open end a sliding plunger 135, carrying a stud 136, entering a slot 137 in the cylinder 134. The spiral spring contained in the cylinder 134 fills the space between the bottom of the cylinder and the sliding plunger 135 and impartsl a yielding pressure to the pawl 131. The sliding plunger 135 is pivoted to a bell-crank 138, which turns on a stud 139, held by the table 1. The bell-crank 138 is moved in one direction, carrying the rotating pawl into engagement with 'the tui ret 104 by means of a sliding pin 140, bearing against the end of the bell-crank lever.

and actuated by the side of a cam 141, which is carried upon the shaft 13, and the motion of the bell-crank is reversed by a spring 142, connecting the end of the bell-crank with the fixed framework of the machine, carrying the pawl 131 Vout of engagement with the turret 104. The spindle 117 of each of the chucks :is moved radially outward by means of the cam 120, carried upon the camshaft 121, to which an oscillating motion is given by means of a radial arm 143, attached to the lowerend of the shaft 121 and pivotally connected to a slide 144, sliding in ways in the framework of the machine IOS) IIO

and provided with a depending lug 145, pivotally connected by a link 146 with one end of a lever 147, pivoted at 125 and having its opposite end actuated by a cam 148 on the shaft 12, Figs. 1 and 7. As the spindle 117 is moved radially outward the cone 113 is moved beneath the ends 114 of the levers 107, thereby closing the chuck-jaws. The continued outward movement of the cone 113 carries the chuck forward, sliding the spindle 110 against the tension of the spring 149, so that the outward radial movement of the spindle 117, as actuated by the cam 120, serves, first, to close the jaws of the chuck, and, secondly, to move the chuck radially outward, with the piece of wire to be operated upon held between the jaws 10G 106, and the reverse motion of the spindle 117 and its chuck, as actuated by the spring 149, when released by the cam 120 serves, first, to allow the chuck to be moved radially inward by the spring 149, and, second, to open the jaws of the chuck by moving the cone 113 on the spindle 110. Arranged around the intermittently-rotating turret 104, as shown in Fig. 1, are mechanisms for acting upon the articles held by the chuck-jaws, said mechanisms varying according to the character of the work to be performed. In the present instance the machine, as shown, is designed to form a chain -link of wire having similar loops or eyes at its opposite ends, and the pieces of wire which are to form each of the links provided with an eye or loop at one end are successively fed to the chuck-jaws carried by the rotating turret by the feeding mechanism already described. The lirst operation performed upon the piece of wire by the machine shown in the drawings is that of iinishing the end of the wire by means of a rotating hollow mill 150 of the usual form of construction for performing operations of this character and driven by a belt-pulley 151. The next operation performed by the machine shown consists in forming a second eye or loop upon the end of the link, which is accomplished by means of the sliding dies 152 153, sliding in ways on the table 1 and actuated by cams 154 on shafts 12 and 13 and springs 1542*, dies 155 and 156, slidingin ways on the table 1 and actuated by cams 157 on shafts 12 and 13 and springs 157,and a sliding die 158, sliding in ways on the table 1 and actuated by a cam 159 on the shaft 6 and spring 159'u1 in the usual and well-known manner in machines of this class. These operating mechanisms, however, form no part of my present invention. Vhen the eye or loop is completed upon the end of the link by means of the sliding dies, as above described, the intermittent rotation of the turret 104 will bring the chuck-jaws successively into position over an opening 160 in the table 1, through which the chain-link or other article held in the chuck-jaws is allowed to fall by opening the jaws, as hereinafter described. Vhen one pair of chuck-jaws carried by the turret 104 is brought opposite the grippingjaws 7l, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, an oscillating motion is given to the cam 120, which acts to push the chuck-jaws radially outward, bringing the eye of the article held in the gripping-jaws 70 71 into the space between the faces of the chuckjaws 106, when the continued outward radial movement of the cone 113 will close the jaws 106 upon the article. The turret 104 is then rotated one-quarter of a revolution, carrying the chuck-jaws from the position A to the position B, opposite the hollow mill 150, and bringing the next pair of chuck-jaws into the position A. While the intermittent motion of the turret is taking place the oscillating motion of the cam 120 is reversed, and when the next forward oscillating movement of the cam takes place in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 1,the chuck-jaws in position A are closed upon the article held in the gripping-jaws 70 71 and the chuck-jaws in position B are pushed forward toward the rotating hollow mill 150, causing the tip or end of the stem of the piece of wire held in the jaws to be rounded, pointed, or otherwise finished. The oscillation of the cam 120 moves the chuck-jaws in position B radially outward to carry the end of the piece of wire into the hollow mill 150, and also to allow the spring 149, Fig. 10, to withdraw the piece of wire from the hollow mill. The turret is then rotated another quarterturn, carrying the chuck-jaws from A to B and from B to C, when the cam 120 is again oscillated in the direction of the arrow d, Fig. 1, simultaneously seizing another piece of wire held in the gripping-jaws 70 71, pushing the jaws in position B toward the hollow mill 150, and carrying the chuck-jaws in position O forward to bring the article held therein between the sliding dies, by which a loop or eye is formed on the end of the stem. The cam 120 moves far enough at its forward oscillating movement to carry the chuck-jaws radially outward, and also allow them to be reversed by the action of their springs 149. The intermittent motion of the turret 104 carries each pair of chuck-jaws 105 successively into the positions A,'B, C, and D. In position D the cam 120 allows the springs 149 to draw the spindles 117 radially inward and open the jaws, and the opening of the chuckjaws is rendered positive by means of a plate 161, provided with a lip 162, attached to the cam 120, and upon its under side placed obliquely to its circular path as the cam is oscillated and arranged to pass outside the cam-roll and draw the spindle 117 and the sliding cone 113 radially inward to open the chuck-jaws. During the intermittent motion of the turret 104, by which each pairof chuckjaws are carried successively from position A to positions B, C, and D, the spindle 110, upon which the chuck-jaws are mounted, is held from rotating by a cam-plate 163, Figs. 9, 10, and 11, which is attached to the spindle 110, and as the turret 104 is rotated slides IOO -IIO

upon a fixed track 164, thereby holding the spindle 110 from turning. In some operations desired to be performed upon the pieces of wire carried by the chuck-jaws it is necessary that the chuck-jaws rotate, and when such is the case the rotation of the spindle 110 is permitted by providing the IiXed track 164 with a removable section 165, said removable section being shown in Fig. 1l and as removed from the track in Fig. 12, providing a clear space for the rotation of the cam-plate 163. l

The operationsof the feeding mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings is as follows: The pieces of wire having an eye or loop at one end are placed in the hopper 19, to which a continuous slow rotary movement is given in the direction of the arrow 31, thereby carrying the articles contained in the hopper against the free end of the finger 30 as it is depressed and causing more or less of them to be strung by their holes, eyes, or loops upon the finger. Other means might of course be employed by which the finger would be moved against the articles; but I consider it preferable to move the articles by the rotation of the hopper against the finger. The finger 30 is periodically raised, and the pieces strung thereon are pushed by the strip` per-arm 37 toward one of the short studs 33, which is of sufficient length to hold several pieces, in the present instance three, if there be so many, upon the finger 30. The spindle 35, at the lower end of which the studs 33 are carried, is then rotated one-quarter turn, bringing the next succeeding stud into alinement with the finger 30 as it is again raised, and the stripping action is again repeated. The spindle 35 is then rotated another quarter-t u rn, carrying one of the studs 33, with the pieces suspended therefrom, into alinement with one of the studs 51 upon the disk 50, and the pieces held upon the stud 33 are moved toward the stud 51 by the oscillating lever 65, causing one of the pieces to be transferred to the stud 5l and suspended thereon inside the shoulder G4. tated it carries the studs 51 successively into position to deliver the piece of wire to the gripping-jaws 7l, and the jaws 70 71 are then rocked from a horizontal to a vertical position, bringing the stem of the piece of wire as it is suspended upon the stud `5l between the faces of the jaws, which are then closed upon the wire, and the jaws are carried from a vertical to a horizontal position, raising the piece of wire so its eye or loop may pass above the shoulder G4 and be carried olf the stud 51 and into a horizontal position adapted to be engaged by the pair of chuck-jaws in position A. The chuck-jaws in position A are then moved radially outward and closed upon the end having an eye or loop of the piece of wire held between the jaws 70 71. The rotating turret 104 is then turned one-quarter revolution, bringing the pair of jaws and the piece held therein oppo- As the disk 50 is ro.

cam 120 and withdrawn therefrom by the 7o spring 149. The piece is then carried to position C and an eye or loop formed upon its outer end, thereby completing the chain-link, as shown in Fig. 1a. In place of forming an eye or loop other desired operations may be carried on-sucln for example, as cutting a screw-thread upon the stem of the piece held in the chuck-jaws, and thereby forming a screw-eye, as shown in Fig. le. The article when completed is finally carried to position D over the opening 160, where it is released by the opening of the chuck-jaws. The mechanism by which the above-named operations are performed upon the pieces of wire, which are held in the chuck-jaws carried by the ro tating turret 104, form no part of my present invention, and I have therefore not deemed it necessary to describe them more fully in detail. In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have represented a hollow mill by which the end of the stem is pointed and sliding dies capable of forming an eye or loop by which the chainlink is completed; but either one or both of these operations may be omitted or modified by the introduction of other mechanisms, such as are now in use for performing other operations.

My present invention is concerned only in the mechanism for feeding that class of articles which are provided with a hole, eye, or loop, adapting them to be strung upon a 1inger and successively presenting them to the several mechanisms by which the desired operations are perform ed,whatever these operations may be.

The feeding mechanism forming the subject of my present invention is adapted to a large class of articles, it only being required that they be provided with an eye, loop, or hole, which enables them to be strung upon an element in the feeding mechanism corresponding to the finger 30. This process of Stringing the articles to be fed by their eyes or loops distinguishes my present method of feeding from that usually practiced with articles provided with aprojectinghead, in which the articles are suspended by their heads between two parallel supporting-surfaces. The feeding mechanism above described is not, however, confined to pieces of wire, as other articles can be fed-such, for example, as blanks for making nuts. These can be placed in the hopper 19 and strung upon the finger 30 and successively transferred from said finger in the manner alreadydescribed. Although I prefer to employ two sets of studs 33 and 51 between the finger 30 and the jaws 70 7l, yet I do not confine myself to two sets, as one might be omitted and the articles delivered directly from the studs 33 to the jaws 70 71.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of an oscillating finger,

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a hopper, means for moving the articles in said hopper against the end of said finger by which they are strung thereon, means for oscillating said finger and means for mechanically pushing the articles strung on said finger off its free end, substantially as described.

2. rIhe combination of an oscillating finger, means for imparting a rising-and-falling motion to said finger, a hopper, means for rotating said hopper by which the articles held therein are carried against the end of said finger, and strung thereon and a stripper-bar by which the articles strung on said finger are pushed off its free end, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an oscillating finger arranged to carry the articles strung thereon, of a spring by which the free end of said finger is depressed into a hopper, a hopper, means for rotating said hopper, means for raising said finger to a position in alinement with a stud adapted to receive the articles strung on said finger and mechanism for transferring the articles from said finger to said stud, substantially as described.

4. The combination ot' a hopper, a finger having an oscillating motion by which the end of said finger is alternately depressed into and raised out of said hopper, a stud in alinement with said finger in its raised position, a stripping-bar, a spring by which said stripping-bar is moved toward the end of' the finger to transfer the articles strung on said finger to said stud, and means for reversing the motion of said stripping-bar, substantially as described.

5. The combination of an oscillatin g finger, means for alternately depressing the end of said finger into a hopper, and raising it out of said hopper, a hopper, means for rotating said hopper, a spindle, a series of radial studs carried by said spindle arranged in the plane of said finger, when raised, means for rotating said spindle to bring each of said studs successively into alinement with the end of said finger, and means for transferring the articles strung on said finger upon said studs, substantially as described.

6. The combination of anoscillating finger, means for imparting a rising-and-falling motion to said finger, a stud in alinement with the free end of said finger in its raised position and means for pushing the articles strung upon said finger upon said stud, substantially as described.

7. The combination of an oscillating finger, ofa spindle carrying a series of studs, means for raising said finger with its end in alinement with one of said studs, means for transferring the articles held on said finger upon one of said studs, means for rotating said spindle and means for delivering the articles to be fed from said studs, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a rotating spindle and radial studs carried by said spindle,adaptthe articles off said studs and consisting of a pivoted lever, a spring by which said lever is moved to push the articles off the ends of said studs, and a cam by which the motion of l said lever is reversed, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a rotating spindle, and a radial stud carried thereby adapted to hold the articles to be operated upon suspended thereon, means for feeding the articles upon said radial stud, means for rotating the spindle, whereby said radial stud is carried into alinement with a second receiving-stud, means for transferring an article from said rotating stud to said second receiving-stud, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a pair of rotating spindles, two series of radial arms carried by said spindles, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said spindles by which the studs on each spindle are successively brought into alinement, a pivoted lever by which the articles held on one series of studs are pushed upon the studs of the other series, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a rotating spindle, radial studs carried by said spindle and adapted to hold the articles to be fed suspended thereon, a rocking spindle, apair of grippingjaws carried by said rocking spindle, means for opening and closing said jaws in a line parallel with the axis of the rocking spindle and means for rocking said spindle to carry said jaws into the plane of the article suspended on said studs, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a stud for suspending the article to be fed provided with a shoulder by which the article is retained on said stud, of a pair of' gripping-jaws, means for carrying said jaws into engagement with1 the article held on said stud and means for moving said jaws whereby the article is raised to clear said shoulder and removed from said stud, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a stud for holding the article to be fed suspended thereon, of a rocking spindle provided with ways parallel to its axis, gripping-jaws sliding in said ways, means for closing said jaws with a yielding pressure and means for rocking said spindle, whereby the plane of said jaws is varied, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a stud for holding the articles to be fed suspended thereon,

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of a rocking spindle, a pair of gripping-jaws carried by said spindle in a common plane parallel with the axis of said rocking spindle and eccentrically thereto, and means for rocking said spindle, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a horizontal stud adapted to support articles suspended thereon and held in a vertical plane by gravity, of a pair of gripping-jaws, a rocking spindle carrying said jaws and having its axis in a hori- Zontal plan-e and at right angles to the faces of said jaws, and means for rocking said spindle to carry said jaws into a vertical plane in position to seize the articles held in said stud, substantially as described.

17. The combination with arocking spindle provided with ways parallel with its axis, plates sliding in said ways and provided with gripping-jaws, an oscillating lever carried by said spindle and operatively connected to the sliding plates carrying said jaws and means for actuating said oscillating lever to open and close said jaws,substantiall y as described.

18. The combination with a stud for holding the article to be fed suspended thereon, in a vertical plane, of a pair of gripping-jaws, means for opening said jaws, means for moving the opened jaws into a vertical plane inclosing the article suspended on said stud, means for closing said jaws and means for moving said jaws to carry the article ofi' said stud, substantially as described.

19. The combination of a spindle 110, a pair of levers pivoted on said spindle and provided with chuck-jaws, asliding cone on said spindle by which levers are rocked, a sliding spindle 117, a fork carried by said spindle 117 and engaging said cone and a cam by which said spindle 117 is moved longitudinally to slide said cone and close the chuck-jaws, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a rotating turret and a spindle held in bearings therein, a pair of chuck-jaws carried by said spindle, a fixed track concentric with said rotating turret, a plate carried by said spindle and sliding on said track to hold said spindle from rotating, said track having a removable section, by which said spindle is allowed to rotate at 21. The combinationof a rotating turret,.

radially-sliding spindles carried by said turret, chuck-jaws carried by said spindles, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said turret, a cam acting to push said spindle radially outward and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to said cam corresponding to the intermittent motion of said turret, whereby said cam is moved in one direction to actuate said spindles during the period of rest of said turret and reversed during the intermittent motion of the turret, substantially as described.

22. The combination with a turret having an intermittent rotary motion, of a radial spindle carried by said turret, levers pivotally connected with said spindle and provided with chuck-jaws, a cone capable of sliding on said spindle, means for sliding said cone into engagement with said levers to close said jaws and a spring by which said jaws are opened when released by said sliding cone, substantially as described.

23. The combination with a rotating turret, of parallel radial spindles 110 and 117 carried by said turret, chuck-jaws carried by said spindles 110, sliding cones on spindles 110 by which said jaws are closed, forks carried by spindles 117 engaging said sliding cones, cam rolls carried by spindles 117, means for imparting an intermittent motion to said turret, whereby said jaws are successively brought into dierent positions with a period of dwell in cach, an oscillating cam with cam-surfaces engaging said cam-rolls at each period of dwell of said jaws and means for actuating said cam, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiomin presence of two subscribing witnesses, this the 13th day of April, 1900.

VILLIAM O. BEMENT.

lWitnesses:

RUFUS B. FowLnn, AVA T. MURPHY. 

